Best & Worst: Stephen Gallacher

It’s time for another National Club Golfer best and worst, this time we speak to 2014 Ryder Cup star Stephen Gallacher in Abu Dhabi…

Stephen Gallacher: A bio

Stephen became the first man to successfully defend the Omega Dubai Desert Classic title in 2014 when a brilliant back nine left him one shot clear of Emiliano Grillo at Emirates Golf Club.

The year before he won by three shots after holing his approach for an eagle two on the 16th in the final round, securing his first trophy in nearly nine years.

The 2014 triumph helped earn him a place in the European Ryder Cup team. Needing to finish second in the 71˚ OPEN D’ITALIA – the last counting event – to automatically qualify, he came up one shot shy in third place under intense pressure, but his efforts were rewarded when he earned one of Captain Paul McGinley’s wildcard picks.

His first triumph came in the 2004 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, exactly 35 years after his uncle, the former Ryder Cup Captain Bernard Gallacher, won his maiden professional title.

Gallacher saw off Graeme McDowell in a play-off, delighting the home crowds at St Andrews and fulfilling the promise he had shown since turning professional in 1995.